High school teachers and students cooking up a storm at KDU Penang

Participant preparing the main course for the competition using the ingredients provided

Dishes prepared by all the participants from the Student Category

Miss Leow Lee Har, teacher from Phor Tay Private High School concentrating on the cake
decorations under Teacher Category.

Judging done by the professional Chefs from the industry

A photo of the top three teams from Student category together with Ms Cindy Loh, Academic
Department Head for School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts

Group photo of the winners

The most anticipated KDU Power Chef Competition was back in action with more excitement
and challenges on 5th April 2014. Immensely popular among the high school students in Penang,
this 7th edition of KDU Power Chef Competition attracted over 100 teachers and students from
19 different high schools around Penang to take part.

Organised by the KDU Inspire. Co team who are Year 2 students from the KDU-IMI Bachelor of
Arts in International Hotel and Tourism Management, this competition is an educational,
friendly and fun-filled culinary competition that is suitable for secondary school students who
are considering carving a career in the food and beverage industry. The competition also hopes
to unearth students’ hidden talents in the kitchen. Be it a winner or not, at the end of the event,
the participants would surely have enjoyed the process and opened their eyes at what culinary
arts is all about.

This day-long event has 2 categories which are the students group and the teachers group. All
participants underwent 2 rounds of culinary extravaganza before a winner is finally announced.
This exciting competition not only put the participants’ culinary skills to test, but to assess their
time management skill as well as ability to work under pressure. Judging was based on a few
aspects such as hygiene, taste and texture, product display, creativity/skill, mise-en-place,
cooking skills and techniques and grooming.

These budding chefs are judged by a team of culinary experts that include Chef Darren Tan, senior
lecturer of KDU Penang and a WACS Global Masterchef, Chef Daniel Tan from Eastin Hotel who is also
the Secretary of Chefs Association of Malaysia, Penang Chapter, Chef Murugan who has 24 years of
working experience specialising in Indian cuisine, Chef Lim Hock Kooi who commands strong Western
and Asian culinary techniques, Chef Spider Kong, owner of Violet House Café in Batu Ferringhi and
Champion of many culinary challenges and Chef Khor Ying JIa, Chairman of Penang Junior Chef Club who
is also awarded as Penang’s Most Promising Young Chef of the Year 2012 by the Chef’s Association of
Malaysia, Penang Chapter.

Sin Seng Shoes Marketing, Fresh Yield, HRC Kitchenware, Malayan Flour Mills Berhad, Nestle, De
Sunshine Food, POK Brothers Sdn Bhd, GST Fine Food Sdn Bhd, Keluarga, Ecolab, Global
Knowledge Marketing, Amglo SB, Cheow Guan SB, Sunrise Serimas SB and Seng Huat Poultry.
Ms Cindy Loh, Academic Department Head for School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts
expressed her appreciation to all the sponsors and participants who made this annual event a
success. She further explained that the event is to expose high school students to the culinary
industry and create awareness of the valuable culinary talents in Penang.

“This is where we share knowledge and skills, offer students the chance to garner tips and tools
for creating a great meal as well as to foster camaraderie among culinary professionals and to
spur interest in culinary arts and chef training” said Loh.

“The top three teams for Student category will win cash prizes worth RM1000, RM600 and
RM400 respectively together with medals and certificates as well as hotel vouchers for winner
of the Teacher category. Every participant will also be awarded with a certificate of
participation. “

At the end of the day, Silyia Santana and Chong Shin Yin from Penang Chinese Girls Private High
School bagged the top prize which was RM1, 000.00 cash with medal and certificate. First
runner up also went to a team from Penang Chinese Girls Private High School. Samantha Hooi
Wen and Tiffany Chea Yern Yi went home with RM600.00 cash and medal, while the second
runner up went to SMK Bagan Jaya students, Soh Jess and Lee Li Na who took home a medal
each and RM400.00 cash.

It was indeed another effort by KDU Penang in playing its part to produce professional young
chefs through events like this as well as through its chef training programmes offered in the
School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts. As Penang is known as a food paradise for
locals and abroad, the food and beverage industry is a booming industry and we are here to
ensure that the younger generations of chefs from Penang will continue to uphold its
reputation.

For further information about this event or any of our programmes, please contact 04-2386368
or visit www.kdupg.edu.my for further details.

About KDU College Penang:

KDU College Penang is a member of the KDU Education Group, a fully integrated provider that
offers quality education from primary and secondary, both local and international, through to
undergraduate and post-graduate levels, as well as executive and professional development
programmes. The KDU Education Group celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, and is proud to
have had 80,000 students since its inception, some of whom include corporate leaders,
entrepreneurs and celebrities around the globe.

The KDU Education Group is the education arm of Paramount Corporation Berhad, a public
company that is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and whose
diversified business interests include property development and construction.